The Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Startup Middle East to strengthen cross-border collaboration between the UAE and India’s startup ecosystems.
This agreement falls within a broader effort to expand market access, connect entrepreneurs to global platforms, and foster collaborative innovation.
The Sheraa-Startup Middle East agreement outlines a strategic roadmap to connect Indian entrepreneurs with Sharjah’s innovation ecosystem, unlocking new avenues for growth and expansion.
At the heart of the partnership is the establishment of the Sharjah Centre of India Startup Hub (ISH), a dedicated platform designed to connect Indian entrepreneurs with Sharjah’s innovation ecosystem.
Sheraa is expanding its collaborations with government entities and programs in India to further strengthen its flagship initiatives such as Sheraa Deal Dock, Sharjah Startup Studio (S3), and the Access Sharjah Challenge.
These partnerships reinforce Sheraa’s position as a key driver of entrepreneurship, creating broader opportunities for its startups to access new markets and establish a stronger global presence.
The collaboration extends to major Indian startup ecosystem events, including Huddle Global, Startup Mahakumbh, Scaleup in the Emirates Business Summit, and India Startups Confluence 2025.
Sheraa-Startup Middle East ties; Empowering entrepreneurs & startups
Sara Abdulaziz Al Nuaimi CEO – Sheraa
“Collaboration lies at the heart of Sheraa’s mission to build a globally connected startup ecosystem. This agreement with Startup Middle East brings Indian founders closer to Sharjah’s entrepreneurial community and creates new opportunities for our startups to expand into one of the world’s most dynamic markets. Together, we are laying the foundation for a vibrant ecosystem of innovation between the UAE and India, one that will unlock growth, impact, and shared prosperity.”
Siby Sudhakaran, CEO of Startup Middle East, said that, “The India Startup Hub is a landmark initiative inspired by the enduring vision of Expo 2020 Dubai, designed to showcase the dynamism of the Indian startup ecosystem while opening doors to global opportunities. We deeply appreciate Sheraa’s visionary leadership and support in turning this vision into reality.”
“This Hub will serve as a powerful catalyst, connecting Indian innovators with Sharjah’s thriving entrepreneurial landscape spanning its five free zones, the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce, and IBPC Sharjah, further reinforcing the longstanding bridge of innovation and collaboration between the UAE and India,” the CEO of Startup Middle East added.
This strategic partnership reinforces Sharjah’s position as a global hub for entrepreneurship, while creating a stronger bridge between the UAE and India’s startup ecosystems to empower founders, scale impactful ventures, and shape a more connected entrepreneurial future.
